Part 7/12:
Despite the dire straits, the local leaders’ indecisiveness hampered effective defense. At a crucial Council of War, even the military officers and civic representatives could not agree on a unified plan, with debates dragging into the early morning hours.
The Final Stand and the Evacuation
Recognizing the hopelessness, Dunsterville prepared to retreat. On September 14, 1918, the final assault on Baku began, with most local troops abandoning their positions. Dunsterforce managed a fighting retreat, evacuating the wounded and maintaining their small force against overwhelming enemy numbers.